Fomento de Construcciones and Contratas S.A., a construction company with a very high standing in the Spanish market, has built the network of Albornar test roads located in Vendrell, Tarragona, for the Instituto de Investigacion del Automovil (IDIADA) of Cataluna. This network of lanes where different characteristics of motor vehicles are tested, includes the Pistas de Velocidad or speed runways where maximum speeds of automobiles are tested. The runway consists of two straight segments, two kilometres in length, connected by two curves with a 472m radius, with their corresponding transitions. This track can withstand speeds up to 300 km/h, a speed that must be maintained in the curves. In order to minimize the centrifugal force in the wide range of speeds from 0 to 300 km/h, the transversal section of the curve must have an adequate cant for such a range of speeds. In this way, the transversal section fits in with a parabola of third order with a very steep slope on the outside of the curve. This slope reaches approximately 80% at a 39 sexagesimal angle. Building this slope with equipment working in the longitudinal direction of the track was an unprecedented experience in the world with regards to slopes for this project. Specific equipment was used which, in addition to working under these difficult sloping conditions, was able to implement a transversal section of the curve. Furthermore, the influence of the materials in terms of their dosage, quality of binder and laying temperature has been of the utmost importance for obtaining the correct implementation, especially, of the layers on the outside lane of the curve. This led to the need for repeated tests until the requirements established by the specifications were met. (A)
Abstract